The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Matlosana will write to the Provincial Manager for Local Government Sector Education Training (LGSETA), Mr Masixoleni Mbangeni, after 25 learnership students working in the City of Matlosana’s Local Economic Development Department (LED) haven’t received their stipends for the last two months.
Last year November, the 25 youth students started a 12-month learnership programme with the Institute of Professional Studies and Services (IPSS) and the City of Matlosana LED Department with accreditation under the Local Government Sector Education Training (LGSETA).
The contract stipulated that students would be paid a monthly allowance of R1800 for working 40 hours per week. Students were last paid in January and have not received payment for the past two months.
The learnership was supposed to be a mechanism to upscale young people with skills and to alleviate poverty in communities by creating skills development opportunities.
The students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds conveyed their frustrations that they are indebted and cannot afford transport to attend classes or to perform their functions. The departments have agreed to transport them using the municipality’s vehicles.
Students have been sent from pillar to post whilst communicating with the City of Matlosana, LGSETA and IPSS without any positive outcome. They even opened a case with the CCMA office in Matlosana against the municipality, LGSETA, IPSS – case number: CCMA NWKD795-21 Con/Arb.
Last week Friday the students were called to a meeting with the Manager, Mr Mbangeni, who promised that they will receive their outstanding stipends, but did not provide a timeframe for this.
The DA will request an exact date of when the payment will be made. We will also seek clarity on what happened to the R600 000 that was supposedly allocated towards the learnership.
The DA will continue to monitor the situation and put pressure on the municipality, IPSS and the LGSETA to ensure that they fulfil their promise of making the payment.
The DA is committed to addressing youth unemployment and ensuring that young people are not exploited as they try to improve their skills and development.